wolfrose: (eyecon)
Gwen Wolfrose ([personal profile] wolfrose) wrote2008-03-10 03:53 pm
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Today I learned...

Today I learned that apparently online only friends can't be dear friends. At least that is what I was told. It hurt, a lot. Some of my dearest friends are online friends that I've never met in person... or have only briefly met one time...

inannaliban, enyo, thorswitch, davensjournal, desdemmonna, ferelwing, herbmcsidhe, stephanielynch, jazdewills, teal_cuttlefish, lildrafire, magickalmoon, misslynx, pwnedkitten, rowansolasban, seshen, swisscelt... and others who aren't on LJ (and some who are I'm having brain fog from this stupid flare that is still going on) are all people I really care about and keep up with.

Maybe some people who aren't confined to a bed for days and sometimes weeks don't understand that these online relationships are the only contact with the outside world some people are able to have. Being disabled is quite lonesome at times. Sometimes the only real friend I have is a chihuahua who keeps me company while I'm curled up in pain. But I also have this laptop where I can reach out and interact with lots of people and in doing so I've found people I like and have formed relationships with and for me it doesn't matter that it's just words on a screen, it's human contact. I hurt all the same when I lose an online friend. I've been on the net long enough that I have had several online friends die and I cried all the same just as if I had physically met that person.

Ok, so a poll:

[Poll #1152022]

Real Friends

(Anonymous) 2008-03-10 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I met my husband online. I have met many dear friends online. The word "friend" denotes an emotional attachment to a person, something that can be obtained from and online friendship as well as one where the people meet IRL.

I've been lucky enough to have both with you, Missy Kayote.

Re: Real Friends

(Anonymous) 2008-03-11 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
well yeah Online friends can be real because there is a real person typing the words. I have had experiences online that were really profound so blah to someone who tells you othewise

Jenn